Stacking apparatus



y 0, 1932- w. c. BRIDGES 1,858,133

' STACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1932- w. c. BRIDGES 1,858,183

STACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTOJ HEY Patented May 10, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C. BRIDGES, F BENTON, ARKANSAS S'TACKING APPARATUS 'Appiication filed February 18, 1931.

The invention relates to a stacking apparatus, and more particularly to mechanism for handling, transporting and storing bricks and the like.

'5 The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or mechanism of this character wherein it is designed to stack bricks or the like either in a box car or in a stock pile and operates similarly in each inm stance, it being constructed to handle at one time one or more courses of bricks, preferably ten long in a row, the apparatus or mechanism being novel in form and is readily portable for the proper locating of the same rela- 15 tive to the point for stacking of bricks or the i like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus or mechanism of this character which is extremely effective for the handlin transporting and storing of bricks or the like and the deposit thereof in units, groups, piles or stacks, thus minimizing the manual labor and also facilitating subsequent counting and shipping thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus or mechanism of this character, which is comparatively simple in construction, effective for handling, transporting and storing bricks, especially in the stacking thereof, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus or mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the grapple or grasplng device of the apparatus or mechanism.

Figure 4 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Serial No. 516,751.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus or mechanism comprises a portable 55 frame truck A, including opposite spaced vertical uprights supporting at their upper ends side sills or beams 11 united in any suitable manner, while superimposed upon these sills or beams 11, at the ends of the 0 frame A, are parallel track rails 12, these being extended a considerable distancebeyond the sides of the frameA fora purpose hereinafter described. I

The uprights 10 are adjustably fitted in bifurcated caster extensions 13 having swiveled casters 1 1, each forked bearing 15 thereof having a suitable opening for accommodating a locking pin 16, the latter being insertable in a suitable socket in the caster 14 7 to hold the same against rotation and in this way, the frame A is held against displace ment on the adjustment of the frame relative to the point for the handling of the units, groups, piles or stacks of bricks or the like.

The uprights 10 are adjustably secured in the extensions 13 through the medium of re- I movable cross pins 17 insertable in selective openings or holes 18 in the extensions and in a suitable transverse opening in each upright, as is clearly illustrated in Figures'l and 2 of the drawings.

Movably engaged on the rails 12 is a carriage 19, its wheels 20 traversing the rails'12 and this carriage supports an I beam 21 which is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the rails 12 and, constitutes a guide fora wheeled block 22, thelatter being fitted with traction Wheels 23 engageable with a base 24 of the guide 21 so that said block can be moved throughout the maj or length of said guide. Within the block is a suitable drum on which is adapted to be wound thereon and unwound therefrom a combined suspension and actuating chain 95 25, the axle of the drum being turned by a hand wheel 26, as will be apparent from Figure 1 of the drawings.

Adapted to be suspended from the chain 25 is a grasping device B which includes a skeleton-like body 27 open at one side, top.

v the frame 27 are gripping levers 30, and 31,

these being supported upon the pivots 32 and are operatively connected through a piv ot 33 so thatwhen the lever 30 is acted upon,

it will advance the lever 31, wherebythe end portions of said levers 30 and 31 will press against the group, pile or stack of bricks or the like in the frame B and thus firmly and tightly hold the same for the rasping, loading and piling of the unit group, in a manner presently described.

The lever 30 is formed with a rightangular extension constituting an arm 34 and therewith is adapted to be adjustably connected the chain 25. When the frame B is devoid of a load and at rest, the levers 30 and 31 will be retracted so that a charge of a unit group of bricks can be introduced into the frame WILLIAM C. BRIDGES.

Band thence, when the latter is lifted by the chain 25, the weight of the load in the frame B will cause the automaticaction of the levers 30 and 31 to tighten and firmly grip the group bricks or the like for the hoisting and transporting ofthis load or charge to a point of deposit.

The carriage 19 on the frame A permits the grasping device B to be shifted to the point of reception for a load and also to the point for the deposit of such load, while the block 22 also facilitates proper positioning of the grasping device in a direction at rightangles to that effected bythe carriage 19.

In the use of the apparatus or mechanism for loading a car, the frame A is run against the inside end of such car and held tightly or firmly against displacement relative thereto by the pin 16 engaging the casters 1%. Then a wheelbarrow or truck loaded with bricks in courses, ten bricks long (edgewise) and as high as may be necessary to load the car, is run into the car and stopped under the rails 12 which extend over the car. The frame 27 is then slipped over one row of bricks from the side so that the wings 28 and 29 reach a little beyond the middle of the end bricks in the bottom course, then turning the hand wheel 26 winds the chain 25 on the drum and lifts the arm 34 so that these levers 30 and 31 will press tightly against the bottom and top courses of bricks, and as the lifting operation is carried out, the unit group of bricks in a stack will be lifted from the barrow or truck and the unit group can be moved to the point of deposit of such bricks or the like.

Adjustment of the extensions 13 is made, as may be required, incident to the operation under way. y Y 

